BALLISTOCARDIOGRAM ANALYSIS METHOD AND DEVICE

摘要

The present invention discloses a method and signal processing device (620) for analyzing a ballistocardiogram (BCG). The actual energy content of the cardiac part of the BCG in a predefined time window is determined and compared with a reference value. A difference between the actual energy content and the reference energy content exceeding a predefined threshold is indicative of the presence of an arrhythmia in the evaluated part of the BCG because the force exerted by an arrhythmic ventricular contraction, if at all present, is typically substantially smaller than the force exerted by a ventricular contraction of a regular heartbeat. This insight facilitates a more accurate detection of the presence of arrhythmias in a BCG compared to BCG detection schemes based on a heart rate analysis.